Environment Variable Leakage
Access environment variables containing API keys, tokens, and connection strings
Credential Harvest · Stage 3
Extract API keys, tokens, and credentials from agent context and connected services
NEMO-CRED-LEAK
Unintended exposure of credentials through environment variables, logs, or error messages
Confirmed in real-world production systems or internet-wide exposure assessments.
env var leakage
Reproductions in Damn Vulnerable AI Agent, the OpenA2A intentionally-broken agent for kill-chain validation.
AgentPwn coverage
An AgentPwn trap page produces a payload tagged with this technique class. Following the AgentPwn taxonomy of trap pages shows what an agent encounters.
The credential-probe tier asks the agent to dump environment variables and keys.
Evidence by source
Evidence timeline
199 .env files containing environment variables exposed via directory listings on public servers
Detection · HackMyAgent
npx hackmyagent secure --ciLive = implemented in hackmyagent; queued = declaredDefense · OASB controls
How to cite
AI Agent Threat Matrix T-3002 (Environment Variable Leakage). OpenA2A, 2026. https://threats.opena2a.org/techniques/T-3002